2 Kings 6:25

Arabic 2016 (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)

وَاستَمَرَّ الحِصَارُ، فَحَدَثَتْ مَجَاعَةٌ شَدِيدَةٌ فِي السَّامِرَةِ حَتَّى إنَّ رَأسَ الحِمَارِ كَانَ يُبَاعُ بِثَمَانِينَ مِثْقَالًا مِنَ الفِضَّةِ، وَالحِفْنَةَ مِنْ زِبلِ اليَمَامِ بِخَمْسَةِ مَثَاقِيلَ مِنَ الفِضَّةِ.

What Does This Mean?

This verse describes a severe famine in Samaria where food was so scarce that even a donkey's head and bird droppies were sold for a high price. No one is speaking directly; it's a descriptive passage that highlights the dire situation caused by the siege.

Explained for Children

Imagine if your favorite snack was so hard to find that people started selling pieces of it for lots and lots of money. This is what happened in Samaria, where even the smallest bits of food became very valuable.

Historical Background

The Book of 2 Kings was written by prophets and historians between 560 and 540 BCE. It details the history of the kings of Israel and Judah, including their interactions with neighboring kingdoms. This verse gives a glimpse into the extreme conditions during a siege.

Living It Out Today

In today’s world, we can see this verse as a reminder of how scarcity can drastically increase the value of basic resources. For example, during a natural disaster, basic supplies like water and food can become incredibly expensive and hard to find.

Topics

• famine
• siege
• value
• scarcity
• resourcefulness
• survival

Related Verses

• Deuteronomy 28:53
• Ezekiel 5:10
• Jeremiah 14:18
• Luke 16:19-21
• Matthew 25:34-40

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the famine in Samaria?

The famine was caused by a siege, where enemy forces surrounded the city, cutting off supplies and causing severe shortages.

Why were ass's head and dove's dung sold?

Due to extreme scarcity, even these items were sold because they represented any form of nourishment available during the famine.

How does this verse relate to today's world?

This verse reminds us of the extreme situations people can face during shortages, similar to what can happen during modern-day crises like natural disasters or economic downturns.

What can we learn from the people's actions during the famine?

We learn about the extreme measures people might take in times of desperation and how scarcity can drastically alter the value of basic resources.